From haunting tales of suburban tragedy to vibrant stories of queer life in London, this curated list spans genres and continents to bring you some of the most compelling contemporary literature that we consider to be our favourite books of 2024.

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

This 1993 novel explores the life of 5 sisters referred to as "the Lisbon girls." The story spans a period of 13 months and takes us through the suicide of each of the Lisbon sisters. The inhabitants of their town and most especially a group of teenage boys through whose perspective the story is told, are quizzical about the Lisbon family and the happenings at their house. Even before their collective suicides, the Lisbon girls have always existed as enigmas and piqued the general interest of the neighbourhood.

Small Worlds by Caleb Nelson Azumah

The novel tells the story of Stephen whose life is full of dance and music and camaraderie with everyone in his corner of Peckham. The novel explores the complexities of his relationship with his father, his sentimentalism for his Ghanaian origins and his seeming unsteadiness in his surroundings. In this story, the author does a brilliant job of conveying the emotions of the character in a way that would make readers unwilling to put down the novel.

Fine Boys by Eghosa Imasuen

The story is told from the perspective of Ewaen, a young boy starting his journey through medical school at the University of Benin. With his group of friends, he explores a new kind of life full of responsibility and independence. The story highlights the prevalence of confraternity groups in Nigerian university systems as he and his friends are accosted relentlessly by members of confraternities. Set in the 1990s when Nigeria was swirling with political unrest, this novel gives us a quick glimpse of what it meant to be a part of the university system at the time.

Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan

In her debut novel, Naoise Dolan explores the intricacies of a love triangle involving a young Irish woman working as a teacher, a British banker and a female lawyer. Set in Hong Kong and told in a unique and compelling tone, the novel follows the life of Ava, a young woman working as an English teacher as she meets and gets romantically involved with Julian, a British banker. She also gets romantically involved with Edith, a lawyer and finds herself in the midst of internal conflict as she explores her identity. Naoise Dolan's style in this book is so remarkably clear and leaves the reader in a state of perpetual fascination.

A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum by Emma Southon

Emma Southon takes us through the culture of murder that perpetuated the political affairs of ancient Rome. Told in a humorous tone, the book sheds fresh light on the perception of death by ancient Romans, as well as other heavy subjects like sexual assault, slavery and body horror.

Yellowface by RF Kuang

RF Kuang expertly tells us the story of June Hayward. She's a failed writer and has a front seat to all of her rival, Athena's accomplishments. When she witnesses Athena's death, June has the opportunity to make a comeback by stealing her manuscript. How far does she spiral? To what length does her deathly jealousy take her? Yellowface is fun, chaotic, and presents you with a nuanced perspective on the world of writing and publishing. June was really just doing anything and when you think she can't get any worse, well…

Cleopatra & Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

Cleo is a 24-year-old British artist trying to find herself in big-city New York after escaping England. She meets Frank – he's twenty years older than her but he offers her everything she could ever imagine. Freedom. Excitement. A green card. When they spontaneously decide to marry, it impacts both their lives and their close friends'. This book (a debut novel!) is told in easy, fluid, and stunning prose and has an array of characters – each with their own distinct voice and background – that will stay with you once you read the last line. It also has one of the funniest names you could ever give to a pet.

Blessings by Chukwuebuka Ibeh

Chukwuebuka Ibeh makes a powerful debut with his novel based on the life of a young boy called Obiefuna. The novel explores the life of Obiefuna as he grapples with his sexuality, coming of age and survival in a society that is inherently opposed to his existence. We see Obiefuna deal with the chaos of the Nigerian boarding school system, slowly lose the once tight bond he had with his mother and learn to live with a shroud of shame heavy on his shoulders. This book is resonant especially with the strength of the voice Chukwuebuka Ibeh uses to bring his character's alive.

For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings by Troy Onyango

Troy Onyango's short story collection is a marvelous glimpse into the nuances of human relationships, love, Kenyan identity, loss and family. Every story is deftly written and by the time you're done with one, you're itching to get to the next one. If you're looking for a book to get you back into reading or out of a slump, this one is a good choice.

Evenings & Weekends by Oisín McKenna

In Oisín McKenna's debut, we follow a fascinating group of characters linked together across London's bubbling background and diverse queer scene. Secrets, desires and past decisions come up to the surface and we watch how they unfold and affect everyone. Evenings & Weekends is perfect for any young adult grappling with complex emotions and at the end of the book, you'll be itching to read more of McKenna's work.